Then two days later, this happened. Within a week, so did this. So yeah, don’t play poker with Jocketty.

Further, Fay’s impression is that the recent hot hitting streaks of Ryan Ludwick and Super Todd Frazier have caused the Reds to move away from looking for a clean-up hitter. We speculated ten days ago that might be one effect of the emergence of Ryan Ludwick’s bat. Jocketty now emphasizes the need to find someone to get on base ahead of the middle of the lineup. Fay mentions the usual suspects (Denard Span, Shane Victorino and Juan Pierre). Or how about a year-plus of Hunter Pence anyone?

Another report has emerged linking Victorino with Logan Ondrusek, but it’s hard to tell if that’s just a repeat of the news we reported and discussed here a few days ago. And it’s from Jim Bowden, so there’s that. If that report can be trusted, several teams are interested in the Phillies CF, including the Pirates.

Whatever else you may think about Walt Jocketty’s regime as GM, it’s undeniable they are successful at keeping their work secret for the most part and they often come up with trades that were not even blips on the radar screen.

12 thoughts on ““Not close on anything.””

Honestly, I’m so tired of hearing about Pence. I’d take him if it didn’t cost so much and he could play center (I’d think he’d cost a lot), but he’s having a worse year than Ludwick. He had a career year in 2011, but he’s slightly better than Jay Bruce right now but 4 years older. Just overrated. Good ball player, but not the superstar many in the media seem to think.

I know Ludwick is hot right now, but do we think he can continue raking like he has? I still believe the best way to improve this team is to acquire someone like Josh Willingham. With Willingham, you have a legitimate cleanup hitter, with 25 HRs and 72 RBIs already. With Willingham hitting cleanup, Phillips can move to his more natural leadoff spot, Cozart can hit second, and Stubbs can move down to seventh or eighth. I know that means sending Ludwick to a reserve role, but that drastically improves the bench, and he could still get a couple starts a week.

Minnesota needs pitching and SS help, and we still have good prospects like JC Sulbaran, Kyle Lotzkar, and could include Didi Gregorious, since we have an abundance of wealth at that position in the minors.

Our record hides the fact that we have middle-of-the-road offensive numbers, and a player like Willingham would greatly help Votto and Bruce in the middle of the lineup.

I know Ludwick is hot right now, but do we think he can continue raking like he has?I still believe the best way to improve this team is to acquire someone like Josh Willingham.With Willingham, you have a legitimate cleanup hitter, with 25 HRs and 72 RBIs already.With Willingham hitting cleanup, Phillips can move to his more natural leadoff spot, Cozart can hit second, and Stubbs can move down to seventh or eighth.I know that means sending Ludwick to a reserve role, but that drastically improves the bench, and he could still get a couple starts a week.

Minnesota needs pitching and SS help, and we still have good prospects like JC Sulbaran, Kyle Lotzkar, and could include Didi Gregorious, since we have an abundance of wealth at that position in the minors.

Our record hides the fact that we have middle-of-the-road offensive numbers, and a player like Willingham would greatly help Votto and Bruce in the middle of the lineup.

I love Willingham and I agree he’s a better bet going forward. Furthermore, I thought Ludwick was on a 1 year contract, and either (a) he has a great year the rest of the year and costs a lot, or (b) he doesn’t, and Willingham’s much better. Willingham is signed for the next 2 years at a pittance (7M, and if Ludwick finishes with an .850 OPS, he could easily make 5M, if not more, next year).

The problem is that I don’t think the difference between Willingham and Ludwick is worth Billy Hamilton. That’s what I bet the Twins would hold out for. I sure would if I were them.

There are only two major options out there that I would personally find appealing for the Reds right now and I have heard nada of any substance regarding either of these two options: David DeJesus & Dexter Fowler. Of course there are many option for a LH pinch hitter and role player for a minor transaction. I am perfectly comfortable if the Reds stand pat and make a run with their current roster, but Uncle Walt is always good for a surprise or two.

There are only two major options out there that I would personally find appealing for the Reds right now and I have heard nada of any substance regarding either of these two options: David DeJesus & Dexter Fowler. Of course there are many option for a LH pinch hitter and role player for a minor transaction. I am perfectly comfortable if the Reds stand pat and make a run with their current roster, but Uncle Walt is always good for a surprise or two.

I agree. I can understand making a trade if it makes our team better, don’t lose if anything, etc. But, I do believe we have enough.

The thing I believe it will take is a lineup change, though. Come playoffs, with Cozart and Stubbs hitting 1-2, against good pitching every game? I hope I would be wrong, but I can’t help thinking the opposing teams would have a field day with them. And, if you take out our first two guys, you effectively take out Votto as a weapon, also. Our offense would be limited to what our 4-8 guys can produce (not including the pitcher), against good pitching every game. I don’t like those odds. So, I’m still hoping that Baker will see the light sometime (more like get some common sense) and get some of our better hitters against Votto, so that the team can get use to that batting order before the playoffs. For, with this batting order, with the 1-2 holes, I don’t see us doing anything in the playoffs. And, changing it at playoff time wouldn’t give the players any time to get any kind of chemistry with that they have.

Last I checked, record against “current” playoff teams, +1. That can easily change with seeing good pitching every game.

I wouldn’t make trades for any of the guys listed, unless there is a really weird opportunity and none of their big “prospects” are involved. Although I guess if they feel someone like Cingrani is destined for the bullpen, it makes sense to trade him to a team who believes he can start, etc.

Jocketty and the Reds showed a long time ago that this is a terrible organization to follow if you want to feel like you’re up on the inner workings of the team… with all the major transactions seemingly coming out of nowhere. I never used to have much interest in that ‘mystery team’ that was secretly speaking to free agents like Aroldis Chapman.

I’d say that Drew Stubbs has made some progress toward reinforcing the Reds’ faith in him in the past few weeks. I really don’t believe Victorino or Pierre would be any improvement. All sources report that Denard Span and Josh Willingham will cost an unreasonable amount to acquire. Hunter Pence hasn’t put up significantly better numbers than Ryan Ludwick. Guys like Upton and Quentin are off the market. David DeJesus, I think he’s the only guy who may be available for a trade who provides any legitimate leadoff solution.

Every day the Reds are going to lose as long as Stubbs and Cozart are at the top of the lineup… but they always seem to win. Against good teams and bad. All season I’ve heard that it couldn’t last another day, not week, not another month, maybe a new manager or player could salvage something from this season, now it’s late July and the lineup is still producing runs win one of the best records in MLB. Cozart and Stubbs both have low OBPs but it seems silly to expect that Cozart and Stubbs’ OBPs will unable to reach base or score runs in the playoffs.

Given how this team is playing right now, and that it is a sellers market and are limited needes and limited payroll flexability, I don’t see anything happening between now and Sunday. Reds are off today, have 3 in Colorado before the deadline (anyone know the time, thought it was like 4pm) to make a move. What I could see happening is like a minor wavier deal sometime in mid-late August but then nothing mucht.